Desert King Colt Tops MM Final Session

It's not often you see someone from the Northern Territory, which is the remote outback state of Australia, coming to the city and buying the top price on the day. But that's what happened as the sun continued to melt everyone and everything as the Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale ended on Wednesday evening.

For the 11th day in a row, Adelaide fried under 105 degree heat. Bush fires are raging out of control in the Adelaide hills as the heat wave that would do summer proud, continued to burn across South Australia during what is now officially the hottest fall ever.

But Northern Territory-based Larrem Lodge paid top price of Aus$28,000 for a colt by former Lynden Park shuttler Desert King (the sire of former champion Makybe Diva). This colt is out of the 12-year-old unraced Rivotious mare Superealism.

The unrelenting heat took its toll of horse and man and as the curtain drew on the sale, everyone was glad it was over. The heat was simply unrelenting with the night remaining unbearable at 88 degrees.

But Magic Millions CEO David Chester, was as usual, optimistic. "I was particularly pleased to see so many interstate buyers at the sale despite the heat and bidding for the yearlings that caught their eye."

One of busiest buyers of the night was Washpool Lodge's Kevin Thomas. He signed for six yearlings which are set to be prepared for the Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale in October. Other interstate trainers buying on the night included Shane Clarke, David Noonan, Lawrie Mayfield-Smith, Quinton Scott, Jason Petch, Michael Templeton and William Cerchi.

One familiar name in the buying results was Morphettville trainer Leon Macdonald. This is an astute judge and he is the trainer who took all before him at the track earlier in the day as the Magic Millions Mega race day was conducted under the blazing sunshine.

He trained the winners of both the big races - the Magig Millions 2-Year-Old Classic, worth $400,000, and the Magig Millions 3-Year-Old Classic, worth $200,000. So it was a little shock to see him buy just one yearling for a mere $2,000. It was a colt by Real Jester.

Wednesday's gross was Aus$706,000 while 83 yearlings changed hands at an average price of over $8,500 and healthy clearance rate of over 76%.

Magic Millions, which conducts the largest movement of yearlings in Australia with its eight-day sale each January, said the sale won't take place as previously advertised because of the equine influenza outbreak.